Luanne Rice’s Secrets of Paris Book Club

Luanne Rice’s Secrets of Paris Book Club

I’m always curious as to how someone discovers a new read. Was it due to an intriguing review? A friend’s suggestion? A gift? In this case, I stumbled across Rice’s Secrets of Paris while perusing the bookshelves at the condo where we were staying in Florida. I was hoping for a light read, and this is exactly what I found in the pages.This novel is a story of a married couple who recently transferred to Paris after a tragic death in the family. What ensues is betrayal, discovery, and a new lease on life.As stated above, Rice’s novel in question is light and perfect for reading while on the beach or resting between outings, but I found when it was over, the novel, overall, lacked development in both characterization and plot. The familial tragedy mentioned above was never fully explained, the betrayal occurring in Paris had a nice neat conclusion after a brief discussion, and a full-blown besties friendship bloomed after a brief passing of the sugar in a cafe. Although a quick, entertaining read, I wanted more from the pages when it was all said and done and wished for a main female protagonist with more backbone.For the purposes of book club, a Paris backdrop complete with French delicacies would certainly set the mood: crusty bread, assorted cheeses, macaroons, and profiteroles. Oooh la la!